[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 230 (Friday, November 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71603-71605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28646]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9902-83]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of 
Several Currently Approved Collections; Comment Request

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this 
document announces that EPA is planning to submit requests to renew 
several currently approved Information Collection Request (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICRs are identified in this 
document by their corresponding titles, EPA ICR numbers, OMB Control 
numbers, and related docket identification (ID) numbers. Before 
submitting these ICRs to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting 
comments on specific aspects of the information collection activities 
that are summarized in this document. The ICRs and accompanying 
material are available for public review and comment in the relevant 
dockets identified in this document for the ICR.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 28, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by the docket ID number for 
the corresponding ICR as identified in this document, by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: OPPT Document Control Office (DCO), EPA 
East Bldg., Rm. 6428, 1201 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. ATTN: 
Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0459 and EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0460. The 
DCO is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays. The telephone number for the DCO is (202) 564-8930. 
Such deliveries are only accepted during the DCO's normal hours of 
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of 
boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to the docket ID number for the 
corresponding ICR as identified in this document. EPA's policy is that 
all comments received will be included in the docket without change and 
may be made available online at http://www.regulations.gov, including 
any personal information provided, unless the comment includes 
information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or 
other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not 
submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected 
through regulations.gov or email. The regulations.gov Web site is an 
``anonymous access'' system, which

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means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you 
provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment 
directly to EPA without going through regulations.gov, your email 
address will be automatically captured and included as part of the 
comment that is placed in the docket and made available on the 
Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you 
include your name and other contact information in the body of your 
comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your 
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for 
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic 
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of 
encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the docket index 
available at http://www.regulations.gov. Although listed in the index, 
some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other 
material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only 
in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available 
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only available in 
hard copy, at the OPPT Docket. The OPPT Docket is located in the EPA 
Docket Center (EPA/DC) at Rm. 3334, EPA West Bldg., 1301 Constitution 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room hours of 
operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays. The telephone number of the EPA/DC Public Reading Room 
is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPPT Docket is 
(202) 566-0280. Docket visitors are required to show photographic 
identification, pass through a metal detector, and sign the EPA visitor 
log. All visitor bags are processed through an X-ray machine and 
subject to search. Visitors will be provided an EPA/DC badge that must 
be visible at all times in the building and returned upon departure.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information contact: Ron 
Carlson, Information Management Division (7407M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 564-8631; fax number: (202) 564-7480; email address: 
[email protected].
    For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 
422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202) 
554-1404; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. What information is EPA particularly interested in?

    Pursuant to PRA section 3506(c)(2)(A) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 
EPA specifically solicits comments and information to enable it to:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility.
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used.
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected.
    4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from 
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of 
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork 
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

II. What should I consider when I prepare my comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific 
examples.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used 
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Submit your comments by the deadline identified under DATES.
    6. Identify the docket ID number assigned to the ICR action in the 
subject line on the first page of your response. You may also provide 
the ICR title and related EPA and OMB numbers.

III. What do I need to know about PRA?

    An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information subject to PRA approval 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB 
control numbers for the EPA regulations in title 40 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR), after appearing in the preamble of the final 
rule, are further displayed either by publication in the Federal 
Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the related 
collection instruments or form, if applicable. The display of OMB 
control numbers for certain EPA regulations is consolidated in a list 
at 40 CFR 9.1.
    As used in the PRA context, burden is defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b).

IV. Which ICRs are being renewed?

    EPA is planning to submit a number of currently approved ICRs to 
OMB for review and approval under PRA. In addition to specifically 
identifying the ICRs by title and corresponding ICR, OMB and docket ID 
numbers, this unit provides a brief summary of the information 
collection activity and the Agency's estimated burden. The Supporting 
Statement for each ICR, a copy of which is available in the 
corresponding docket, provides a more detailed explanation.

A. Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0459

    Title: Request for Contractor Access to TSCA CBI.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1250.10.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0075.
    ICR status: The approval for this ICR is scheduled to expire on 
June 30, 2014.
    Abstract: Certain employees of companies working under contract to 
EPA require access to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
confidential business information collected under the authority of TSCA 
in order to perform their official duties. The Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), which is responsible for maintaining the 
security of TSCA confidential business information, requires that all 
individuals desiring access to TSCA CBI obtain and annually renew 
official clearance to TSCA CBI. As part of the process for obtaining 
TSCA CBI clearance, OPPT requires certain information about the 
contracting company and about each contractor employee requesting TSCA 
CBI clearance, primarily the name, Social Security number and EPA 
identification badge number of the employee, the type of TSCA CBI 
clearance requested and the justification for such clearance, and the 
signature of the employee to an agreement with respect to access to and 
use of TSCA CBI. This information collection applies to the reporting 
activities associated

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with contractor personnel applying for new or renewed clearance for 
TSCA CBI.
    Responses to the collection of information are voluntary but 
failure to provide the requested information will prevent a contractor 
employee from obtaining clearance for TSCA CBI. Respondents may claim 
all or part of a response confidential. EPA will disclose information 
that is covered by a claim of confidentiality only to the extent 
permitted by, and in accordance with, the procedures in TSCA section 14 
and 40 CFR part 2.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.6 
hours per response. The ICR, a copy of which is available in the 
docket, provides a detailed explanation of this estimate, which is only 
briefly summarized here:
    Respondents/Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this ICR include companies under contract to EPA to provide certain 
services, whose employees must have access to TSCA confidential 
business information to perform their duties.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 20.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
15.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 483 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $25,875. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $25,875 and an estimated cost of $0 for non-burden hour 
paperwork costs, e.g., investment or maintenance and operational costs.
    Changes in the estimates from the last approval: The renewal of 
this ICR will result in an overall decrease of 118 hours in the total 
estimated respondent burden identified in the currently approved ICR. 
This decrease reflects EPA's reduction in the estimated number of 
contractor employees needing clearance. This change is an adjustment.

B. Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2013-0460

    Title: Correction of Misreported Chemical Substances on the TSCA 
Inventory.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1741.07.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0145.
    ICR status: The approval for this ICR is scheduled to expire on 
June 30, 2014.
    Abstract: Section 8(b) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
requires EPA to compile and keep current an Inventory of Chemical 
Substances in Commerce, which is a listing of chemical substances 
manufactured, imported, and processed for commercial purposes in the 
United States. The purpose of the Inventory is to define, for the 
purpose of TSCA, what chemical substances exist in U.S. commerce. Since 
the Inventory thereby performs a regulatory function by distinguishing 
between existing chemicals and new chemicals, which TSCA regulates in 
different ways, it is imperative that the Inventory be accurate.
    However, from time to time, EPA or respondents discover that 
substances have been incorrectly described by reporting companies. 
Reported substances have been unintentionally misidentified as a result 
of simple typographical errors, the misidentification of substances, or 
the lack of sufficient technical or analytical information to 
characterize fully the exact chemical substances. EPA has developed 
guidelines (45 FR 50544, July 29, 1980) under which incorrectly 
described substances listed in the Inventory can be corrected. The 
correction mechanism ensures the accuracy of the Inventory without 
imposing an unreasonable burden on the chemical industry. Without the 
Inventory correction mechanism, a company that submitted incorrect 
information would have to file a premanufacture notification (PMN) 
under TSCA section 5 to place the correct chemical substance on the 
Inventory whenever the previously reported substance is found to be 
misidentified. This would impose a much greater burden on both EPA and 
the submitter than the existing correction mechanism. This information 
collection applies to reporting and recordkeeping activities associated 
with the correction of misreported chemical substances found on the 
TSCA Inventory.
    Responses to the collection of information are voluntary. 
Respondents may claim all or part of a response confidential. EPA will 
disclose information that is covered by a claim of confidentiality only 
to the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, the procedures in 
TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2.25 
hours per response. The ICR, a copy of which is available in the 
docket, provides a detailed explanation of this estimate, which is only 
briefly summarized here:
    Respondents/Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this ICR include manufacturers or importers of chemical substances, 
mixtures or categories listed on the TSCA Inventory and regulated under 
TSCA section 8 who had reported to EPA during the initial effort to 
establish the TSCA Inventory in 1979 and who need to make a correction 
to that submission.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 9.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 20 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $1,265. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $1,265 and an estimated cost of $0 for non-burden hour 
paperwork costs, e.g., investment or maintenance and operational costs.
    Changes in the estimates from the last approval: The renewal of 
this ICR will result in no change in the number of hours compared with 
the total estimated respondent burden identified in the currently 
approved ICR.

V. What is the next step in the process for these ICRs?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the individual 
ICRs as appropriate. The final ICR packages will then be submitted to 
OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. EPA will issue 
another Federal Register document pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to 
announce the submission of these ICRs to OMB and the opportunity for 
the public to submit additional comments for OMB consideration. If you 
have any questions about any of these ICRs or the approval process in 
general, please contact the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: November 21, 2013.
James Jones,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2013-28646 Filed 11-27-13; 8:45 am]
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